This post was updated on 5/23/15

Kingdom Principle:  Conviction is the bases by which Credibility will be tested.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Psalm 104:24-34, 35b Romans 8:22-27 Acts 2:1-21 John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Kingdom Leaders have credibility in their leadership based on their character, conduct and compassion. (the last three weeks posts established this…)  The Kingdom of God is an assault on the kingdoms of this world – The prince of this world (Satan) is the ruler of all such kingdoms.  This assault we will not go without retaliation – but the key to being a Kingdom leader is that your focus always remains on the King.  Which means it is not your job to attack other kingdoms or even defend yourself, rather your joy and responsibility is to obey the King. This is done most clearly in summation of Micah 6:8. (Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly) for the force by which the Kingdom advances is not of might or power, rather  it is the Spirit which leads us in obedience to the King.  (Zechariah 1:2-6, 4:6)

Not everyone gets the Kingdom of God – it is what Jesus was all about (post 2 weeks ago), but many Jesus loving and church going Christians don’t have the slightest clue about living in the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God broke through the heavens in the life of Jesus and all things have ever been changed because of such actions. Outside the Kingdom of God is a world of filled with pride, stubbornness and rebellion. And the reality of the world is that it has masked this as the good life – Pride cries out declaring that all are their own gods, and humanity is advancing on their own merit. Stubbornness cries out boasting in the absence of morality and declaration of no need for ethics.  Rebellion cries out rejecting any form of judgment, calling it intolerance and a breach of personal rights.  For in the Kingdom, the King has given the work of the Spirit to be our rule and guide.  This rule is the very opposite that conviction is a part of the discovery and fulfillment in life.

Let us be reminded that it is not our job to bring conviction to others; it is our responsibility to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit brings to us.  As simple as when the Spirit says stop – we stop, when the Spirit says go – we go… This is the order set in place for the whole world to be submitted unto the King. It is this submission that breaks us free from the kingdom of this world. At Pentecost – we celebrate the birth of the Church – the vehicle by which the Kingdom of God is proclaimed to all the world.  This work of the Spirit is a gift unto you and me. Might we today – set our hearts to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Not ever taking our eyes off the King to compare ourselves to others or to become the agent of conviction (verses agents of grace) as if the Holy Spirit were not capable of doing His job.

In Acting Justly – we break the chains of rebellion and bring Compassion to the broken. In Loving Mercy  – we overcome our stubbornness and submit ourselves to walk in Obedience to the King. In Walking Humbly – we defeat the very pride of our lives and exalt the King with our Thanksgiving.

If you long for the dry bones of your life to be renewed with Life – Life comes from the movement of the Holy Spirit. If you long to grow in your understanding of what you are to “do” in this world – Life comes from the movement of the Holy Spirit. If you don’t even know what to pray for anymore, fear not  there is new Life for you in the movement of the Holy Spirit. The very earth itself will be made new in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Do you view conviction as a negative thing? If so where does that come from?

Where have allowed your focus to be on the lack of conviction of others? (This is a great place to apply Micah 6:8)

Where have you feared or rejected the conviction of the Holy Spirit in you? (This is a great place to read Zechariah 3)